Playoffs: Who has real chance and who’s faking

As we head into the second half of the regular season, now would probably be an excellent time to take a look at which teams are primed to make a playoff push and which teams are actually pretenders.

Yeah, you read that right, it’s Week 6 already. Hard to believe, isn’t it?

Anyway, there are six area teams with a record of 4-1 or better. OK, there’s only one team that has a record that is better than 4-1 and that’s Avon, which is 5-0.

Still, that makes five area teams that are 4-1. At the halfway point, having a record with just one loss means each of those teams has a really good shot at making the playoffs, right? Unfortunately, no. First, let’s look at those teams that should be in, barring some sort of disastrous turn during the second half.

Obviously, that list would include the undefeated Eagles, who will cruise to 6-0 this week as they travel to Lakewood. It’s safe to also throw 4-1 Midview in that category as well, after the Middies bounced back from their first loss in 25 regular season games (to Avon) to dismantle Berea-Midpark last week.

Midview will have a tougher test this week against 3-2 Westlake, but the Middies should grab that fifth win this week.

Another team that is well on it’s way to making the playoffs is Avon Lake. The Shoremen (4-1) have just one blemish on their record, a Week 2 loss to, who else but, Avon.

Avon Lake is in the driver’s seat to reach the postseason with three of its remaining games against Amherst (1-4), Berea-Midpark (2-3) and North Olmsted (2-3), all three of which are quite winnable. The Shoremen will still have to face Olmsted Falls (4-1) in Week 8 and the Middies in Week 9. Winning one of those two will all but clinch a playoff spot.

Unfortunately for Olmsted Falls, a 4-1 record in the first half of the season doesn’t mean quite as much. In addition to the coming game against Midview, the Bulldogs still have to face Avon and Avon Lake. A 6-4 record probably won’t be enough to squeak in.

That leaves two more 4-1 teams in the area: Firelands and Keystone. Unfortunately, it’s going to be tough for both of those teams to get in due to the conference they play in: the Patriot Athletic Conference.

Hold on now, though, it’s not because the conference is weak this year. Rather than being the punchline of a joke, the PAC actually has some pretty good teams this year.

That’s where the problem lies for the Falcons and the Wildcats. Both still have tough games against Black River and Buckeye, as well as a headto-head game against each other.

Keystone can make a statement this week when it travels to Black River to take on the 4-1 Pirates, but it won’t be easy. The Pirates are looking like the Black River teams of old after thumping Columbia last week.

In addition to the aforementioned six area teams, there are four more teams with a record of 3-2. While a 3-2 record certainly could turn into a playoff year, Elyria, Lorain, Elyria Catholic and Westlake all face a tough road in the second half.

As with Olmsted Falls, Westlake has to play in the Southwestern Conference. Elyria Catholic will struggle to get in for the opposite reason. It conference strength of schedule just isn’t going to be enough to get the points necessary to get in.

Lorain and Elyria both have lost games that were rather necessary to get the points to get in.

The Gridiron Guru can be reached at sports@ morningjournal.com